Bryleigh McBride, Freshman | Minot North High School
The first year at Minot North High School has come to a close, marking the beginning of what many hope will come to be a proud and lasting legacy. With its first year behind it, members of the school community—teachers, administrators, and students alike—have shared their thoughts on what it meant to be part of a brand-new school.
For english teacher Mrs. Michels, the transition to Minot North brought a mix of anticipation and tension. “A mixture of excitement and stress I think,” she said. “Excited to see what we would get to change and grow as a new school. I was excited to see previous students again and to have the chance to teach them again. The stress was that we were still a construction zone and I knew that stresses would come from that especially since some parts were not done.”
Despite the challenges, she adapted with resilience. “I tried to go with the flow as much as possible,” she said. “Learning to pivot became a part of the year for many of us and I think it went well because everyone maintained a great attitude and the excitement was evident with everyone.” One of her main hurdles was adapting to her teaching environment. “Learning how to best use my spaces was a huge challenge,” she explained. “Dealing with technology issues and the echo of the room took some time to adjust to.”
Still, she brought years of teaching experience to the table when it came to building classroom culture. “I took what I already had and combined it with the culture that was with the school. I’m not sure it was really from scratch given that I have been teaching for 13 years.”
Mrs. Michels credited her success to the support system within the school: “My colleagues—my department is wonderful and we always build each other up. But also, other teachers have been wonderful, our custodians, IT department, office staff, and our librarian have been great at brainstorming new ideas and pivoting with our changes.”
Reflecting on her students, she noted, “Most students seemed to build on each other’s excitement to be in a new space. The many firsts this year only built on that thrill of being able to set new customs and traditions.”
One of her proudest accomplishments was launching the school’s newspaper. “Establishing a new school newspaper and continuing it in the form of a club next year is one of my most exciting features.”
Looking forward, Mrs. Michels hopes for more engagement: “I would like to see more students being involved in clubs and activities in the upcoming year—if every student could find something they wish to be in would be wonderful.”
Furthermore, administrator Lynn Nord’s goals for the first year were simple but essential: “To have school ready for the first day of school. To have all the things teachers and students need to have a good school year.”
And despite the usual hiccups of a major launch, he was pleased with the start. “School opened on the first day as planned. Staff and students were excited to be in a new school and start new traditions.” But challenges did arise: “Like learning a new building and where everything is located. Dealing with contractors to try to complete projects that needed to be finished as school had started.”
Still, the school’s culture emerged as a highlight. “With the new school, there was a lot of positive energy,” Nord said. “There are more opportunities for students to participate in sports and clubs.”
One vivid memory stands out for Nord, demonstrating both the challenges and his commitment to resolving them: “Homecoming night after all the things that went on through the day, it came down to trying to find a way to dim the lights in the gym for the dance. Well, we looked for the breaker in the whole new part of the school, with no luck… Just about to give up and admit I could not get lights off… I remembered one last breaker and sure enough we found the right breaker to shut off lights in the gym.”
Nord emphasized the power of community: “Staff at Minot North has been very good to work with. We have some of the best teachers and custodians in the district of Minot.”
Feedback from outside the school was just as encouraging. “The community has been very positive about Minot North. Most feel that Minot needed a new high school. I believe that the students and teachers have made this first year successful.”
As for the future, Nord is optimistic: “After one complete school year at Minot North, I hope that we can add things to school to make it better each year… To respect the building and each other. With that, we will be strong and great things will come to Minot North.”
For freshman student Memphis Lynch, being part of Minot North’s first class came with excitement and surprises. “Getting to see something completely new with my friends” was the
highlight, and she noted, “What surprised me was how most of the seniors were very nice to me.”
“It feels amazing that I get to be part of the first students at North,” she said, reflecting on her unique place in the school’s history. She also acknowledged the learning curve: “Definitely learning where to go. I faced it by trying to remember places that were next to it.” Despite the newness, she found ample chances to get involved. “I love how there are so many different activities to pick and choose from and everyone in them is so nice.”
Social and academic support were on point in Memphis’s eyes: “I think they did very well in encouraging people to join activities.” When asked what she would change, she had a practical suggestion: “Maybe allow a little more time in advisory. Sometimes it feels like I don’t have enough time to finish homework.”
The first year at Minot North has been a testament to adaptability, optimism, and the strength of community. From Mrs. Michels’ establishment of new programs, to Mr. Nord’s unwavering dedication to smooth operations, and Memphis Lynch’s enthusiasm for student life, one thing is clear—Minot North is off to a strong start. The excitement of building something new has forged a foundation not just of bricks and mortar, but of shared commitment and pride in what’s to come.
